Idaho teen falls to death at popular Glacier Park waterfall

An Idaho teenager was killed Tuesday night in Glacier National Park after he slipped in Haystack Creek and fell about 100 feet.

The boy, 15-year-old Spencer Flerchinger of Kamiah, was apparently exploring the culvert that runs under the road when he slipped and fell.

The creek is an iconic spot on the Going-to-the-Sun Road. It runs from the Continental Divide down to the road and underneath it, plunging down a sheer face after it goes under the highway.

The Going-to-the-Sun Road was restricted to one lane travel for three hours on Tuesday evening near the incident, and temporarily closed for approximately 10 minutes to vehicles in both directions while rangers secured the scene of the accident and recovered the victim’s body from a ledge below the road via litter carryout.

No suspicious circumstances have been noted the Park said in a release, and the investigation is ongoing.

The fatality follows a similar death in July of 2017 at Haystack Creek when Robert Durbin, 26, of Corvallis fell into the creek above the culvert while taking a photograph and fell to his death.

Falls are the No. 1 cause of death in Glacier.

Visitors are urged to use extreme caution while recreating in the park. Unpredictable wildlife, extreme natural features, and other hazards exist in nearly all locations, including areas that may seem relatively safe. Glacier has 42 named waterfalls in addition to unnamed creeks and falls, and miles of roadway that border steep cliffs.

“It’s often the case that people hear about a tragic incident like this and think that it couldn’t happen to them,” said Glacier National Park Chief Ranger Paul Austin. “The facts are that many people explore the park each day in ways that could result in a serious accident. Take a few minutes before your trip to public lands to identify significant hazards. Prepare for the possibility of getting lost on a trail or an unexpected animal encounter. Stay away from rushing creeks and sheer drops.”